No backstage: the relentless emotional management of nursing in acute settings through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

To explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nurse's wellbeing, experiences of delivering healthcare within acute settings, and their emotional management. Sequential mixed methods was used. February to July 2021 an online wellbeing survey was disseminated to nurses working in acute settings within one Scottish health board. In-depth interviews with a purposive sample of respondents were conducted. Survey data were analysed descriptively, and interview data using Framework analysis and emotional management as the theoretical framework. Wellbeing was poor overall. Infection control measures impeded interactions, with loss of connection between patients, families, and nurses. Emotional work was extended in caring for patients and families when visits were forbidden or restricted. Disconnect between colleagues was intensely felt. On Covid and non-Covid wards, nurses were caring for patients with a significantly reduced workforce and often outside their clinical speciality. Nurses masked their own anxieties, fears, moral distress, and exhaustion on the ward. Communal 'backstage' spaces, were reduced to enable more infection-control space but reduced opportunity for collegial support. Formal psychological intervention required access after shift, and/or nurses feared they could not contain their emotions afterwards. Working during the pandemic was emotionally and physically demanding for those in Covid and non-Covid wards. Unintended consequences of infection control measures significantly extended nurses' emotional management, by caring for isolated patients and families but impeding opportunities to care for each other, compounding their emotions. There is a need to value emotional work in nursing to better support mental wellbeing. We advance the nursing emotional management literature by addressing the gap of exploration in challenging conditions. The importance of emotional management on nurses' mental wellbeing has been overlooked but focusing on this in the next crisis could improve nurse's wellbeing.

Rights

This content is not covered by the Open Government Licence. Please see source record or item for information on rights and permissions.

Cite as

Downloadable citations

Identifiers

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16563

Repository URI

https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2518921